You have noticed the appearance of a kind of “piece of flesh” on your skin, in the neck, under the arms or in menstruation. This “piece of flesh” does not necessarily hurt you, but it may be annoying visually, or to the touch. Are you wondering what it is? Chances are it's a skin tag. This small pedicled wart can be removed by a dermatologist, or by a treatment, cream or natural type. Let's find out all there is to know about skin tags. If you want to know how much does it cost to remove skin tags? then you should read our whole guide.
What looks like a small wart, the skin tag, is a painless, non-cancerous growth on the skin. It is a common phenomenon in men and women over 50, but this dermatological condition also affects the youngest.
Also called the molluscum pendulum , or fibroepithelial polyp, these skin lesions are made of normal tissue and are usually benign. You can have a skin tag, like hundreds.
Most skin tags are around 5mm in diameter, but they can grow larger and reach 5cm in diameter. They can be flesh colored or have brownish tints.
Skin tags tend to prefer dry areas. They are usually noticed on the neck, chest, eyelids, back, armpits, under the breasts and near the groin area.
Although skin tags are a phenomenon whose characteristics are well known, in terms of the causes, there are many gray areas. Many hypotheses exist.
It seems that although this phenomenon can affect anyone, skin tags seem to depend on a genetic component, they are more likely to affect a person whose parents have already had them. There would be a link with the human papillomavirus.
Studies have also been conducted to show a link between type 2 diabetes and the development of skin tags. Insulin resistance, a high body mass index, and high triglyceride levels could explain the appearance of skin tags.
There is also a link between hormonal regulation and the formation of the polyp on the skin. We notice that this is a side effect of pregnancy. It happens in some cases that the appearance of skin tags is the witness of a hormonal imbalance.
We also note that friction in the armpits, eyelids or neck tends to promote the development of the polyp.
Without knowing the cause of skin tags, we know how to eliminate them. They can go away on their own. If the latter undergo involuntary friction on contact with clothing, the skin tags become irritated and become painful, until necrosis and fall.
Be careful, do not try to remove them yourself physically, trying to tear them off, to scratch them. A dermatologist can however carry out this task for you, with suitable tools.
